Keir Starmer unveils new 'standing army' to tackle riots as he vows to 'ramp up' response

Starmer instead claimed incidents witnessed in the previous week were not protest and amounted to violence, adding: "This is not protest - it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities."

Riots started last week after misinformation circulated related to the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29.

More than 420 people have been arrested since riots began last week, with unrest witnessed in Middlesbrough and Bolton.

Hundreds of thugs petrol-bombed a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham yesterday.

Balaclava-cladded rioters also hurled bricks and fire extinguishers at officers who tried to stop them torching the hotel.

Violent rioters also destroyed a children's library in Liverpool and a Citizen's Advice centre in Sunderland.

Mosques across the country have also been targeted during the six-days of unrest.

Speaking after the Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister said: "There were a number of actions that came out of the meeting. The first is we will have a standing army of specialist officers, public duty officers, so we will have enough to deal with this where we need them.

"The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests. Some of them have appeared in court this morning.

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"I've asked for the early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process, who will feel the full force of the law."

Starmer also stressed the criminal law applies to social media users as well as those involved in riots across the country.

Addressing the use of a "standing army", Starmer added: "In relation to the police, I am absolutely clear that we will have the officers we need, where we need them to deal with this disorder.

"That is why the 'standing army has been set up, specialist officers, ready to be deployed to support communities."

Starmer's remarks come as Labour MPs joined Farage in demanding a recall of Parliament.

Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot voiced her support for recalling Parliament, with ex-Shadow Equalities Minister Dawn Butler claiming: "Uncomfortable truths must be addressed."

Farage, who was criticised from ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, said this morning: “Ever since the soft policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread.

“The Prime Minister's faltering attempts to address the current crisis have only added to that sense of injustice.”

Responding to concern about "two-tier policing", Starmer defiantly said: "There's no two-tier policing. There is policing without fear or favour, exactly how it should be and exactly what I would expect and require. That is a non-issue."

Farage has not held back in his criticisms of Starmer, claiming that the Prime Minister "hasn't got an earthly clue" about how to deal with the situation.

Tory leadership hopeful Priti Patel, who served as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022, also argued "unacceptable" violence requires MPs to return.

However, the Prime Minister appeared to dismiss the need to recall Parliament, adding: "My focus in on us stopping this disorder."

Starmer also challenged Farage over his remarks about "two-tier policing" but steered clear of naming the Reform UK leader.